DirecTV finalizing deal to carry Lakers channel

DirecTV is inching near a deal to start carrying the Lakers television channel. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles…)

Lakers fans are finally getting some good news.

Satellite broadcaster DirecTV has struck a deal to carry SportsNet, the Time Warner Cable-owned network that is the new TV home for the Lakers, sources close to the talks said. An announcement could come as early as this afternoon, they said.

The deal ends a long standoff between the two companies. DirecTV has about 1.7 million subscribers in Southern California and having it carry SportsNet and sister Spanish-language channel Deportes was crucial for Time Warner Cable.

Other distrbutors carrying SportsNet and Deportes include Cox, Charter, Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-Verse. The only distributor not carrying SportsNet and Deportes is Dish Network.